Critters, Crackers and Cottages

Vital Records

Timeline

Florida Stories

Social Life

"Now about the expenses, etc. that seems to be troubling my love's mind. Just rest easy, I have made the calculations all along and would not have proposed building now if it was not safe, I am sorry I wrote you that despondent letter, for I was only temporarily so and had not enough data of the business in my mind, in a word its all right now. The $5000 I put aside last summer for your house and its furniture is entirely independent of the business. I think I wrote you in last week's letter the cost of the house…" - Excerpt from a Letter, Arthur William Catesby Smyth to Beatrice Alice Smyth dated March 18 & March 26, 1893, Orlando

"…Now for the traveling and other expenses for this summer, I have my salary from the Smyth Orange Co. which is $2,500, my share in the profits will be about $2,500, besides in addition to my salary $2,500, so you see I can build the house, pay for the lot, furnish the house, etc etc, pay the traveling expenses and have $2,500 more in the business than I started with this season…"- Excerpt from a Letter, Arthur William Catesby Smyth to Beatrice Alice Smyth dated March 18 & March 26, 1893, Orlando

"The butcher comes four times a week and the ice man three times and in ten days we are to have fresh milk every day, so no one can rough it at Narcoosee any longer. This is a very comfortable little house, but we were nearly eaten up by mosquitoes until today when the wire doors arrived. Bill put them up at once and we are left in peace tonight…" - Excerpt from a Letter, Helen F. Warner to her Mother dated August 27, 1885, Orlando

"Tuesday night I went to the Whist Club and spent a very pleasant evening. Wednesday night to the regular meeting of another Card Club which is composed of the young ladies of the town. Thursday night was the first dance of this month at the Lucerne Club and was most brilliant and successful. - Excerpt from Travel Diary January 2, 1886, Titusville

"…Took a bath. had hair cut, went to club shooting edge of town 6 men shot 25 rounds at Blue Rock Pigeons thrown from spring trap. best 17 by two out of 25 shots. Evening Miss Clara Kyle of Chicago Miss {Manse?} + Miss Carleton spent eve -playing cards and music + danced [bed?] after leaving the ladies home…"